At Camp Wellstone and our other trainings, we often joke that progressives could spend their entire lives in meetings (sometimes, not even getting much done). Yes, those of us engaged in the struggle for social justice do give up a lot of our precious time and energy to the cause, but Advanced Campaign Management School alum Erin Byrd has provided us with some inspiration to keep on fighting. She recorded this spoken word piece (written below) for us after some of our staff heard her perform it recently for a gathering of national leaders in civic engagement. Click below to listen!
A Meeting Prayer for my Fellow Freedom Fighters
Oh Lord,
I may meet my life away,
I spend too much time meeting,
I meet every day.
No doubt important work gets done,
But my to-do list grows longer after every one.
These meetings go on, and on, and on.
In this meeting we plan the next meetings agenda.
At times I get so frustrated,
I want to surrender.
With my eye on the clock,
Watching the passing of time,
I silently giggle and fantasize about committing violent crime.
But instead, I pray.
Lord, help me get past this meeting today,
And not fold into myself and fly away.
To stay engaged, though I want to run,
Listen, though I fear other work is not getting done.
To be easy, not difficult to meet with,
To remember it was you, Lord,
That gave me these gifts.
To use to the betterment of your world
Is why I was sent.
So
I'll suffer through these meetings if it's Your will,
I'll stay engaged, focused, listening still,
But please help me so that I will know,
Which of these meeting you want me to go!
AMEN
COMMENTS
Prayers belong in Houses of
prayer belongs where there is consent
Prayer belongs where there is consent
Thanks Erin
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